Access our support and expertise:
The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) has provided a funding boost to community and voluntary groups that offer the vital platforms for patients and the public to shape local health services. Ten groups and organisations across the region have been awarded £1,500 each to help meet their essential running costs – supporting them to start or continue vital work to increase patient, carer and public involvement in healthcare across the East Midlands.
All of these groups exist to make sure that the experiences of patients and members of the public are at the heart of decisions about the planning and delivery of health services and research. Each group has its own specific focus on key health issues, from across the East Midlands including primary care, long-term conditions, sensory impairment, Black and Minority communities, mental health and children and young people. EMAHSN first launched the fund in 2015 in recognition that many groups operate on an entirely voluntary basis and find it difficult to cover even basic costs such as travel and members’ out-of-pocket expenses. Now in its fifth year, the bursary scheme aims to support groups with additional funding to empower and activate patient, carer and citizen involvement in shaping health services.
Martin Hindle, Independent Chair of EMAHSN, acknowledges that even small amounts of funding can make a big difference to voluntary sector groups: “Patient and Public Involvement groups are at the very heart of service improvement and transformation.”
“The East Midlands benefits from a diverse network of hundreds of volunteers who commit their time to making sure that patients are listened to and that their experiences and ideas are fed back to local NHS organisations.”
“These groups give a platform to so many people who otherwise may not feel able to contribute, including patients with disabilities or mobility issues and those from underrepresented communities. We recognise the valuable contribution of these individuals, groups and organisations and hope and these grants will help them to thrive and grow.” Applications for the grants were considered by the East Midlands Patient and Public Involvement (PPI Senate), an independent group of patients and public with varied health service user experience. The PPI Senate supports health and social care organisations to embed patient and public involvement in their work, adding valuable insight for service planning.
Grants of £1,500 have been awarded to each of the following ten groups:
Parminder Bains from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, CAMHS BAME Focus Group known as Insight said “We are hoping this group will improve the access and experience of our Primary Mental Health Service for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, working with children, young people and their families in order to shape how are services are delivered and evaluated in our local community across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.”
Susan Swinburn from South Lincolnshire Blind Society, Socialeyes Grantham said “This bursary is fundamental in helping us to establish a new group of people living with sight loss and their carers to help the NHS understand the communication and physical barriers they face every day in trying to engage to shape future service provision.”